The Hindu : DMK to decrease number of district chiefs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 25, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

DMK to decrease number of district chiefs

By R.K. Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI, March 24. Barely two years after the DMK decided to increase the number of district secretaries for "administrative reasons", it has reduced their number, citing the same reason.

The DMK president, M. Karunanidhi said that the number was being reduced "from 50 to equal the number of districts in the State" as it was easier for the functionaries to interact with the district administration. The Union Industries Minister, Murasoli Maran, intervened to say that the changes were made due to administrative reasons. The decision was taken at the general council of the party here today, the third such meeting and the longest after the party lost power in the May 2001 election.

However, there is no immediate change in the party structure; the changes would come into effect only from the next elections. The election process is long- winding as it involves various tiers right from the unit level and takes nearly a year. "The process will begin in May or June," one leader said.

In 2000, the DMK had decided — "for administrative reasons" — to increase the number of district party units from 32 to 50. By downsizing the number now, Mr. Karunanidhi has sought to ensure that each unit is more functionally compact and the dormant elements are enthused.

One argument in favour of the change is that the earlier arrangement was arrived at only because of the elections. At that time, the younger generation needed to be given responsibility to take charge of party affairs at the district level because considerable legwork was involved, it is reasoned.

Stung by criticism that it had very few women members in the general council and higher levels of hierarchy, the party has decided to increase their percentage. In the next elections, each district will have to send at least two additional women members to the general council. The numbers sent to the council from each district depends on the number of taluks.

The council also resolved to hold a meeting in Poompuhar on May 5 to condemn the removal of the Kannagi statue from the Marina. This will mark the second phase of the struggle to press for the demand for reinstallation of the statue "in the same manner and in the same place".

The party condemned the raids on the houses of its members and said that it would not be cowed down by these acts. Mr. Karunanidhi presented shawls to the five former Ministers and the former Madurai Mayor, whose houses were raided, and told the council that everyone could get a chance to receive a shawl, given the rate at which the AIADMK was targeting them.

In other resolutions, the party condemned the AIADMK's mini-budget, which was announced without convening the Assembly, the growing instances of violence sponsored by the ruling party, the anti-farmer attitude of the Government, particularly on the paddy procurement issue, the anti-labour polices and vindictive actions, privatisation of bus routes, the attack on the Chepauk MLA office and the misuse of official machinery by the AIADMK during the Andipatti bye election.

The council demanded that elections to cooperatives be held at an early date. It also urged the Union Government not to divest its stake in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation.

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